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CGFNS Announces New Pricing for its Credential Verification Service (CVS) for New York State
PHILADELPHIA, PA — November 13, 2007 — CGFNS International today announced new pricing for its Credential Verification Service for New York State. The new price was necessitated by increases in fees charged by primary sources for securing required documents on behalf of applicants. Effective January 1, 2008, the following fee will be charged:
Credential Verification Service for New York State (CVS) $350.00*
*Includes $50 order processing fee
July Visa Bulletin from USCIS
As can be seen in the most current version of the Visa Bulletin from the USCIS, in July, all visa numbers will become current. Simply put, the retrogression has ended. This is the moment most of the nurses from the Philippines and the rest of the world are waiting for. Don't miss this chance to secure a visa before another wave retrogression happens again.
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First : Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.
Second : Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.
Third : Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to "Other Workers".
Fourth : Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the worldwide level.
Fifth : Employment Creation: 7.1% of the worldwide level, not less than 3,000 of which reserved for investors in a targeted rural or high-unemployment area, and 3,000 set aside for investors in regional centers by Sec. 610 of P.L. 102-395.
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First : Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.
Second : Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.
Third : Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to "Other Workers".
Fourth : Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the worldwide level.
Fifth : Employment Creation: 7.1% of the worldwide level, not less than 3,000 of which reserved for investors in a targeted rural or high-unemployment area, and 3,000 set aside for investors in regional centers by Sec. 610 of P.L. 102-395.
Executive Order Issued in the Philippines Authorizing Partial Re-take of June 2006 Philippine Nursing Licensure ExaminationsMarch 12, 2007 — Philippine President Gloria M. Arroyo issued an Executive Order authorizing a partial re-take of the June 2006 Philippine nursing licensure examinations. This Order, as the "Whereas" sections make clear, was in response to the announcement by CGFNS on February 14, 2007, that nurses who were licensed in the Philippines pursuant to the June 2006 examinations would not be eligible for VisaScreen certification unless the June passers re-took and passed the equivalent of the compromised Tests 3 and 5 of those examinations. What follows are answers to the Frequently Asked Questions CGFNS has received regarding this subject.Does passage of the NCLEX or the CGFNS Exam make someone who passed only the June 2006 Exam eligible for a VisaScreen Certificate?No. In order to become eligible for a VisaScreen Certificate, CGFNS has required that a June 2006 passer must first re-take and pass, with a score of 75 percent or better, the “special voluntary examination” covering the subject matter of Tests 3 and 5. Passage of the NCLEX or the CGFNS Examination by any passer of the compromised June 2006 PRC examination will not substitute for the requirement that he or she take the “special voluntary examination” authorized by Executive Order 609 issued by the Philippine Government on March 12, 2007.Does the CGFNS decision have an effect on the validity of the Philippine nursing licensure?No. CGFNS recognizes the validity of the Philippine nursing license obtained by the June 2006 passers. The CGFNS decision to deny issuing a VisaScreen Certificate to the June 2006 passers of the Philippine Nursing Licensure Examination relates only to their status under U.S. immigration law.When must I re-take Tests 3 and 5 to be eligible for a VisaScreen Certificate?June, 2006 — Philippine Nursing Licensure Examination test passers must re-take Tests 3 and 5 as provided in Executive Order 609 stating that a “special voluntary examination” for this purpose will be given both in June and December, 2007. A June 2006 passer may take this special voluntary examination in either one of those months, at the examinee’s choice. Executive Order 609 does not authorize re-takes of Tests 3 and 5 after December 2007.What score do I have to get in order to be eligible for VisaScreen Certificate?You must obtain a passing score of 75 percent or better on each Test. An average score of 75 -- in which one score is above 75 and one below 75 -- will not be sufficient to qualify for VisaScreen certification.The American Nurses Association (ANA) has recommended that the June 2006 passers should re-take the entire licensure examination, even though CGFNS requires a re-take of only Tests 3 and 5. Which path should I follow?To gain eligibility for VisaScreen certification, which is a pre-requisite to obtaining a U.S. occupational visa, you should meet the standard set by CGFNS, i.e., retaking Tests 3 and 5 before the end of 2007. ANA has clarified its position by stating that "ANA recognizes the CGFNS'' position that successful retake of Tests #3 and #5 is an acceptable remedy to meet the needs of a VisaScreen Certificate."If I take the re-take of Tests 3 and 5 in June 2007, and I fail to get a score of 75 in one or both tests, can I re-take one or both Tests in December 2007?No. After you have re-taken Tests 3 and 5 once in a “special voluntary examination,” no further re-take is authorized by the Executive Order of the Philippine Government.If I pass Tests 3 and 5 in 2007, what other things must I do to obtain a VisaScreen Certificate?Detailed information about the requirements for a VisaScreen Certificate are available on this website at http://www.cgfns.org/files/pdf/req/vs-requirements.pdf
Order Processing Fee Now Required for Select CGFNS Services
Beginning on January 1, 2007, CGFNS began charging an Order Processing Fee of $50 for select CGFNS services, in addition to the published application fee. The Order Processing Fee defrays operational cost increases associated with energy, transportation, mail services, electronic record management, and technology enhancements for the secure transmission of documents.
The Order Processing Fee is non-refundable and needs to be paid within 60 days of application, in addition to the published application fee for the associated CGFNS service.
The Order Processing Fee applies to the following services:
* VisaScreen® Initial Certificate (valid for five years)
* VisaScreen® Renewal Certificate
* Certification Program: Initial Applicant: CGFNS Qualifying Exam, Credentials Review, English Language Proficiency
* Credentials Evaluation Service: Full Education Course-by-Course Report
* Credentials Evaluation Service: Healthcare Profession & Science Course-by-Course Report
* Credential Verification Service for New York State (CVS)
Click here to view the 2007 CGFNS Fee Schedule.
-CGFNS Newsletter
